Published August 23, 2019
How to best address the needs and improve the lives of the senior population of Northeast
Louisiana resulted in a Memorandum of Understanding between the University of Louisiana
Monroe and Northeast Delta Human Services Authority signed on Aug. 21, 2019.
Northeast Delta HSA is a division of the Office of Behavioral Health of the Louisiana Department of Health.
Its Operation Golden Years initiative focuses on serving citizens ages 60 and above with information, support
and services.
At the signing, Endowed Professor of Gerontology Dr. Burton Ashworth, who will work
directly with the project, recalled meeting with Northeast Delta HSA Executive Director
Dr. Monteic A. Sizer to discuss how to help the region’s senior citizens.
“My focus was on 65 years old and up,” said Ashworth, noting that in Ouachita Parish
around 18 percent of the 154,000 population is 65 and above. “It’s an important point,
but as he began to talk, I recognized, ‘he’s not leaving anyone out.’ … (I had to)
start realizing that this is a bigger project than what I had initially thought that
it would be.”
ABOVE: A Memorandum of Understanding to work together to improve the lives of senior citizens
becameofficial Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2019, between the University of Louisiana Monroe
and Northeast Delta Human Services Authority. Signing the agreement were, seated,
from left, Northeast Delta HSA Executive Director Dr. Monteic A. Sizer and Office
of Sponsored Programs and Research Director Dr. John Sutherlin. Participating in the
event were, standing, from left, Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Alberto Ruiz,
HSA Wellness and Prevention Services Director Dr. Avius Carroll, HSA Board President
Michael Shipp, Director of the School of Behavioral and Social Sciences Dr. Pamela
Higgins-Saulsberry, Endowed Professor of Gerontology in the School of Allied Health
Dr. Burt Ashworth and Dean of the College of Business and Social Science Dr. Ron Berry.
Jeanette Robinson/ULM Photo Services
“We’re going to get the message out. This is going to increase the visibility of the
services that are here, available in our area, and we can educate those individuals
and let them know. ULM has resources, some of it free, that they can partake of and
also that HSA can show that they have those things,” said Ashworth.
Save the date: Elderly & Addiction II Symposium, Nov. 9
The College of Business and Social Sciences presents the Annual PARC 2019 "Elderly
& Addiction II" symposium on Nov. 4, 2019, at Bayou Pointe Event Center. Check-in
at 8:30 a.m, symposium 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. CEUs available. For information, contact the
School of Behavioral and Social Sciences, 318-342-1551.
Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Alberto Ruiz thanked the ULM and Northeast
Delta HSA leaders whose dedication led to the MOU.
“If it were not for people like you in this room, we could not move Northeast Louisiana
forward. It is critical that we do that because we have got to invest in the communities
in Northeast Louisiana. This MOU will create a partnership with Northeast Delta Human
Services Authority and allow our faculty, and more importantly our students, the opportunity
to work collaboratively with their clients,” Ruiz said.
Looking to the future, Ruiz added, “I would like for this university to have a rural
health initiative.”
Sizer thanked Ruiz, College of Business and Social Sciences Dean Dr. Ron Berry, HSA
Board PresidentMichael Shipp, Director of the School of Behavioral and Social Sciences
Director Dr. Pamela Higgins-Saulsberry, Ashworth and Director of the Office of Sponsored
Programs and Research Dr. John Sutherlin for their roles in the project.
“I believe where there are significant challenges, there’s also significant opportunities.
So, I am excited about the future here in Northeast Louisiana,” Sizer said. “We have
already committed to doing things with this university. We have some outstanding things
going on. No one institution can solve these entrenched social problems alone. It
will require all of us putting our souls together to make a difference.”
Northeast Delta HSA “ … directs and manages the operation of community-based programs
to improve the quality of life of people with major mental illnesses, addictive disorders,
and developmental disabilities.” For more information on Northeast Delta HSA, contact
Will Sutton, (318) 362-4538, Will.Sutton@la.gov.
